Note 317 — XXXII. 1786. May 29, 30. THE CONCIERGERIE.—BEFORE THE COURT OF PARLIAMENT, GRAND CHAMBER, AND “TOURNELLE.”

“To-day,” writes M. Berryer, in 1837, “when my fancy carries itself back to fifty years or so ago”—the very date of the Necklace trial—“towards the Palais de Justice, I recognize neither the same antique structure, nor the same internal divisions, nor those innumerable jurisdictions of which it was the seat, nor that inconceivable flood of persons interested, whose tumultuous waves were agitated every day for hours together, and more especially from noon until two o’clock.

“Outside the edifice was a large staircase, crowded with shops piled one above the other, flanked by the offices of writers, starting from the angle of the handsome railings, on the side of the Pont-au-Change, extending to the circle of the old Cour du Mai, and serving as a girdle to the Sainte-Chapelle, a confused mass of steps and stalls pictured with such animation in the Lutrin of Boileau. Who does not recollect the inquiry made by the countryman of an avocat, laden with several bags of briefs, on catching sight of this grotesque staircase, ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘will you be kind enough to tell me what that building is?’ ‘It is a mill,’ replied the over-worked avocat. ‘Ah! I guessed as much,’ remarked the countryman, ‘from seeing so many donkeys carrying their sacks to it.’

“Under the immense vaulted galleries, and also surrounding all the columns of the great hall, were more rows of shops filled with merchandise of all kinds, which had caused the name Palais Marchand to be given to this temple of justice. The Parliament alone occupied seven large halls—the grand chamber, the tournelle, the three halls of inquests, and the halls of requests. The grand chamber, with its arched roof springing from gilded brackets, was an austere-looking place. Perched above were two galleries reserved for the accommodation of great personages, and which I have seen occupied, among others, by the Emperor Joseph II., the unfortunate Gustavus, king of Sweden, and by the Count and Countess du Nord, since Emperor and Empress of Russia.”—Souvenirs de M. Berryer, vol. ii. p. 25, et seq.